THE SA BOERPERD AT SANESA

THE BREED TO BEAT

Any sport takes effort, time and commitment. Horse sport takes extra effort, extra time and extra commitment. A horse is not a bicycle, rugby ball, or hockey stick to be put away after practice. It needs attention and love, time and commitment. A horse is a trusted companion where both horse and rider rely on each other unconditionally. They are athletes: they prepare together, grow together, ride together, and win together.

Not just a competition...

SANESA (South African National Schools Association) is the ideal learning school for Gr. 1 – 12 learners, where these principles are fully cemented. It becomes a family sport: horse, rider, and parents grow together and come to love a horse and the sport. All pitch in to prepare a day before a competition, leaving early the next morning - sometimes in the winter when still cold and dark. Trainers have their hands full running around to read dressage tests, walk jumping courses and calm and support the young riders. Mothers help to keep the horses on the sometimes hectic time schedule. Dads hold horses, and they all work together to “let our children ride” (SANESA motto).

SANESA is the dynamic and vibrant organisation that makes all this happen. It is the umbrella term that includes 15 diverse equestrian disciplines. This multi-disciplinary equestrian schools’ sport takes place under the auspices of the Department of Basic Education and makes provision for riders from Grade 1 up to Grade 12, also including disabled learners. Riders can choose the disciplines in which they want to compete and enter at any time, at the level they feel comfortable at. Schools register on the SANESA platform, and the riders create a profile under the school’s name, adding the horse to that profile. Everything is done with the touch of a button. The structure of the competition is based on the framework that all other school sports leagues are based on, i.e.:

- Regional (district) qualifiers;

- Provincial championships;

- National championships – the big one.

Riders compete in a maximum of 4 qualifiers per discipline in the first seven months of the year. In all the above, riders gain points for their schools, teams, and themselves as individuals.

Not just a discipline...

There are numerous disciplines to compete in. The majority of riders compete in the core league that consists of the following classes: Prix Caprilli; Dressage (normal and freestyle); Equitation, Handy Hunter; In-hand Utility; Showjumping; Performance Riding; Working Hunter; Working Riding.

Other disciplines include Eventing, Stadium Eventing, Endurance, Mounted Archery, Western Mounted Games, Saddle Seat, Vaulting and Western Riding. Often riders that compete in core league classes will also be competing in these other disciplines.

At Nationals 2022, all disciplines included, a total of three thousand two hundred-and-four (3247) classes were ridden (showjumping jump-offs excluded). One thousand threehundred and thirty-seven (1337) classes were ridden by high school riders, and one thousand four-hundred and seven (1407) by primary school riders.

There were 21 different groups of horses represented during this week of horse sports. The largest group (18%) was identified as Thoroughbreds and cross-breeds grouped together. Other breeds combined made up 70%, and include Andalusians, Anglo Arabs, Appaloosas, Arabs, Clydesdales, Connemaras, Friesians, Hackneys, Hanoverians, Lippizaners, Nooitgedachts, Paints, Percherons, Quarter Horses, Saddle Breds, Warmbloods and Welsh Cobs.

However, it was the SA Boerperd that shone through, making up 12% of the horse breeds taking part, making it the largest single horse breed to compete in the majority of disciplines.

Not just a breed...

The SA Boerperde competed in most of the disciplines, high school and primary school included. This says a lot about the versatility and rideability of the breed, as well as their capacity to be schooled as all-rounders. They are the ideal horse for SANESA. They are the full package.

Apart from being versatile, the performance of the SA Boerperd was excellent. 82% of the SA Boerperde placed in the Top 20 of the classes in which they participated.

Not just a rider...

The role of the SA Boerperd can best be described in the success stories of the winners of the Victor Ludorums.

Zara Pappalardo

Attends Midstream Ridge Primary School; won Gauteng Victor Ludorum Primary Schools at 2022 SANESA Nationals. Zara started horse riding when she was six years old. Currently, she has a love affair with two SA Boerperde: Rooigras Elle and Carel-Hancke Donatello. However, it is with Elle that she excelled in the 2022 SANESA league. Elle did almost everything: 75cm Eventing, Elementary Dressage, Level 7 Performance Riding, Level 7 Working Riding, Level 7 Working Hunter, Intermediate Equitation, and Level 3 Prix Caprilli.

Zara started riding Rooigras Elle in 2022. Her first show with Elle was an Eventing show that they won. Since that day, it was clear that they had a special connection. Elle loves to jump and is game for anything. However, their preparation focuses mostly on flat work and fitness. She normally has one or two jumping lessons a week that include equitation.

In her grade five year (2021), Zara and Carel-Hancke Donatello won the SANESA 2021 Victor Ludorum for Primary Schools. Early in 2022, the pair were selected for the Gauteng Open Pony Dressage (Elementary) Team and competed in the SA Youth Championships. It became too much for her to compete with two horses at SANESA, so she focused her attentions on Elle.

At the beginning of 2023, Zara and Elle qualified to compete in Open Showjumping at the Pony Rider level. Therefore, she has cut some of the SANESA classes to be able to focus on Showjumping.

Zara is a very busy lady, as she also makes time in her schedule to participate in athletics, play hockey as well as play the piano - and still, she made time to run a fundraising initiative for the Highveld Horse Care Unit!

Marike Pauw

Attends Hoerskool Die Wilgers; won Gauteng Victor Ludorum Secondary Schools at 2022 SANESA Nationals, Best Matric Rider and SA Boerperd Trophy for SA Boerperd and rider combination with the most points.

In her matric year, Marike Pauw won the SANESA Victor Ludorum on the SA Boerperd, Serengeti Mudsadsi. However, it was touch and go as Mudsadsi had a muscle injury in the beginning of 2023 and could, therefore, only compete in In-Hand Utility. Early in 2022, the pair started practising with caution. In a couple of weeks, it became clear that she would be able to compete fully for the year. They followed a special exercise programme to keep Mudsadsi supple and fit and did a lot of stretching before every class. Mudsadsi competed in eleven classes: seven core league classes and four Western Riding classes. They were: Level 7, Western Pleasure; Level 3, In-Hand Trail Western; Level 7, Handy Hunter; Level 3, In-Hand Utility; Level 7, Western Dressage; Level 4, Western Horsemanship; Freestyle Dressage, Medium; Dressage Elementary Medium (two classes); Level 3 Performance Riding; Level 5, Working Riding.

Marika also competed in another 13 classes on a second SA Boerperd, Le Pona Rico, who placed 6th in the National’s Top 20 overall ranking. Subsequently, she was appointed the best matric rider for 2022. Asked if she would choose another horse breed, her answer is that she will always prefer the SA Boerperd.

Marike’s history is one of true commitment. To be able to have enough time for matric studies, fulfil her duties as head girl at her school, as well as ride two horses was tough. However, with good planning, she was able to qualify to study at the University of the Free State to become a medical doctor – she has horse-sense with brains.

SA Boerperd...the breed

The SA Boerperd are the only truly purebred South African horse breed. Their accomplishments in the SANESA league speak for themselves. With the SA Boerperde winning both the Supreme Ridden and Breed Supreme Classes at Horse of the Year 2023, it is indeed the breed of the future.

The SA Boerperd is well known for its rideability, willingness to please and intelligence. This makes for a very versatile horse that is exceptionally suitable for SANESA competitions. With their easy temperament, they are the ideal sporting and pleasure horses. They are easy keepers and not prone to illnesses. This special breed of horses is readily available on our doorstep - proudly and uniquely South African.

2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the SA Boerperd as a breed. All registered SA Boerperd are invited to enter for the SA Boerperd National Championships that will take place from 26th June – 1st July 2023 at the Parys Afridome. The show will include Showing, Dressage, Showjumping, Working Riding, Working Hunter and Saddle Seat classes (3-gaited and 5-gaited). Other classes will include 3- and 5-gaited Traditional classes, where the horses have higher knee action. The provisional timetable is available on Facebook.